Al Ahly – just like other African representatives at the FIFA Club World Cup, vis-à-vis Mamelodi Sundowns, Wydad Casablanca, and Esperance, failed to get out of the group stage of the global competition ongoing in the United States.
The Red Devils were placed in Group A alongside Porto, Inter Miami, and Palmeiras, with the top two teams securing progress to the next phase. The Egyptian champions managed two points after drawing with Inter Miami and later Porto, but lost against Palmeiras.
The Club World Cup was the first competitive assignment for coach Jose Riveiro, who had been given the mandate to lead the club after his stint in the Premier Soccer League with Orlando Pirates.
Al Ahly and Riveiro struggled!
Former Egypt international Mido insists Palmeiras exposed Riveiro's tactical naivety, and it ended up costing him a place in the Round of 16.
“I have many friends who support Al Ahly, and I have strong relationships with the club’s players and legends. Despite my deep Zamalek affiliation, everyone knows how much I respect and appreciate Al Ahly, its players, and its fans. I’ve always said that Al Ahly is a successful model and a footballing school,” the 42-year-old told Yallakora.
“I went back and watched the video again [where he criticized Al Ahly players for what he felt was a poor show]; maybe I did make a mistake. What I said about the Palmeiras game was that some of Al Ahly’s players struggled with the basics of football, such as build-up play, passing, and receiving the ball. These issues force us to reflect on ourselves.
“Palmeiras’ coach did well to exhaust Al Ahly physically, and the match showed that Riveiro lacks experience, as he stuck with the same tactical approach throughout the entire game,” he concluded.
Riveiro and Al Ahly are expected to take a break before coming back for pre-season ahead of the new campaign.
